Temperature controlled switch



Nov. 10, 1936. J. w; WRIGHT TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed March 1,1935 Patented 10, 1936 PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to temperature controlled switches and the objectof the invention is to provide a switch for use in connection with a.hot water tank and arranged to turn oil or on. in ac- 5 cordance withthe expansion or contraction of the tank.

Another object of'the invention is to provide a temperature controlledswitch having a longi-- tudinally movable rod operating through a togglejoint to actuate the switch.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arm pivotallysupported on the top of the tank in which one end of the arm isconnected to' the bottom of the tank and the other end of the arm isconnected to the temperature controlled switch which is connected to thebottom of the tank so that expansion of the tank to a predeterminedextent will move the temperature controlled switch to the open positionand contraction ofv the tank will allow movement of the switch to theclosed position.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention areheneinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred term ofconstruction by which theseobjects are attained is shown in theaccompanying drawinggin which- Fig. l is an elevation of a hotwa'terjtank equipped with my temperature controlled switch.

Fig. 2 is enlarged section taken on line 2--2 05* Fig. l and showing theswitch mechanism. I

3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of'Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line fl4 u of '2. I g

The switch comprises a housing I which may be octagonal in form, asshown in Fig. 2, and which may be provided with a cover 2-, a portion ofwhich is shown in Fig. 2.. The housing is provided with a lug 3 and ascrew 4 shown in Fig. 3 extends through the lug 3 andis threaded into.the bottom of the housing. An arm 5 is pivotally mounted on the screw 4and the end of the-arm 5 opposite the 'screw 4 is provided with acontact member 6, shown in Figs. 2 and 4, which is secured in 'the endof the arm 5 and insulated therefrom by the insulator 1. A wire 8, shownin Fig. 2; is connected to the contact 6 and this wire extends throughan insulator 9 in the wall of the housing and is connected in theelectric circuit to be controlled. A bracket i0 is secured to the wallof the housing on the opposite side of the housing from the lug 3 andthis bracket provides a support for theoarm H which is pivotallyconnected to thebracket Ill at the point l2. The end of the arm llopposite the pivot l2 carries a screw i3 which extends through a slot Min the arm 5.

' chored in the housing I while the other end of the A vertical rod i5is movable longitudinally through the housing 8 and the rod |5 issecured to the arm il by the screw l6 which extends throughthe arm l land is threaded through the rod I5, as shown more-particularly in Fig.3. The lower 5 end oi the rod i5 extends below the housing and a coiledspring I! is positioned about this lower end and may be adjusted intension by means of the not i B threaded onto the lower end of the rod.

vThe bracket l0 carries an insulation block IS in which a contact screw26 is threaded and the upperend 2| of this contact screw is adapted tobe contacted by the contact 6 carried in the arm 5. A wire 22 leads fromthe contact screw spring is secured beneath the headof the screw it.This spring urges the arm 5 to turn toposition to bring the contact'tiinto engagement with the end 2| of the'contact screw 2|].

As shown in Fig. 1, an arm "2% is pivotally mounted in a bracket 21 onthe pipe 28 extending from the top of the hot water tank 29. The end 30of the arm 26 is connected by means of a wire 3| with a clip 32 which ishooked under the bot- L tom edge of the tank 29, while the, opposite endof the arm 26 is connected by means of a. wire 33 to the turnbuckle 34which in turn is connected to the upper end of the rod |5.- A wire 35shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is connected .to the housing I behind the rod l5and the lower end of the wire 35 is provided with a clip engagingunderthe lower edge of the'tank.

In operation, when the tank is cold, the tumbuckle 34 is adjusted toallow the spring I! to draw the rod l5 downwardly and allow the con- '45tact vIi to engage the point 2| of the contact screw 20. This allowscurrent to flow through the wire 8, through the contacts 6 and 2| to thewire 22 and while not here shown, thiscircuit. is connected to operatethegas valve for heating water. As the water in the tank becomes warm,the tank is warmed and as the tank becomes warmed, it expands slightlymoving the pivot 3i for the arm 26- upwardly "in relation to the tem-, Iperature controlled switch. This is due tofthe Q5 fact that the oppositeends of the arm 28 are. anchored to the bottom of the tank and anyexpansion of the tank will cause movement of the pivot ill upwardly inrelation to the clips I2 and 35 at the bottom of the tank. Due to thewire 3i, this upward movement of the pivot 31 causes the arm 26 to turnslightly in a counterclockwise direction thus raising the rod it againstthe tension of the spring l1 and by means of the screw It the rod H isturned on the pivot l2. As the rod II is turned. the screw II thereinturns the arm 6 on the pivot 4 against the tension oi the spring 41 toquickly move the contact 8 away from the contact point 1| thus quicklybreaking the circuit without drawing an are between the contact lnts. Asthe hot water is used out of the tan the tank will cool oi! and as itcools and contracts, the arm It will turn in a clockwise direction onthe pivot I1 and this turning movement will be taken up by the spring IIto move the rod II downwardly.

As the rod II is moved downwardly, the arm II is turned downwardly andby means oi the screw it riding in the slot it this toggle actionquickly moves the arm 8 assisted by the spring 41 to bring the contact 8back against the contact point 21 and re-establish the circuit. By meansof the turnbuckle Q4, the amount of expansion required to operate thetemperature controlled switch may be accurately adjusted so that thetank may be one-halt or three-quarters full of water before suflicientexpansion has occurred to operate the switch.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that the device isvery simple and efllcient in operation, will not easily get out oforder. is composed of few parts and provides a device which accomplishesthe objects described Having thus fully described my invention. itsutility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is- 1. In a temperature controlledswitch, a container. an arm pivotally supported on the top of thecontainer, means connecting both ends of the arm with the bottom 0! thecontainer, a pressure switch included in one connecting means andincluding a housing, a rod mo'vsble longitudinally through the housing.a spring tending to move the'rod in one direction. the connecting meansbeing connected to one end of the rod to move the rod against thetension or thespring. a, pair 0! carried toggle arms movable by the rod.a contact by one 0! the'toggle arms. a contact in the hook tricalcircuit and a turnbuckle for adjusting said connecting means above thetemperature controlled switch.

2. In a temperature controlled switch, a container, a support extendingfrom the top of the container, an arm pivotally mounted on the 8129'port, a wire connecting one end of the arm with the bottom of thecontainer, a temperature controlled switch including a housing connectedto the bottom of the container, a rod movable longitudinally in thehousing. a toggle switch movable to open position upon movement 0! tillrod in one direction and movable to the closed position upon movement ofthe rod in the opposite direction, a spring tending to move the rod toclose the switch and means connecting the rod with the opposite end orthe arm.

3. In a temperature controlled switch, a container, a support extendingIrom the top of the container. an arm pivotally mounted on the support.a wire connecting one end oi the arm with the bottom or the container,0. temperature controlled switch, a wire connecting the temperaturecontrolled switch to the bottom of the container. the pressure switchbeing provided with a movable operating member. a wire connecting saidoperating member with the opposite end of the arm, the arrangement beingsuch that as the container expands the temperature controlled switch ismoved to the open position and as the container contracts thetemperature controlled switch ll moved to the closed position.

4. In a temperature controlled switch. a container. a support extendingfrom the top of the container, an arm pivotally mounted on the sup--port. means connecting one end of the arm with the bottom oi thecontainer. a temperature oohtrolled switch. means connecting thetempestture controlled switch with the bottom of the container and meansconnecting the temperatme controlled switch with the opposite end of thearm whereby expansion or contraction of the container moves the armpivot and arm to open or close the temperature controlled switch.

5. In a temperature controlled switch. a oustainer. an arm pivotallysupported on the top 6 the container. means connecting the oppositeendsotthe armvnththebottom'of thecontlhsd'. one means including aswitch. spring means tendingto move the switehto the closed positlm andthe arrangement being such that ll tboustsinerexpendsthearmisturnedonltsplvotto move the switch to the openpodtion W the tension of said spring.

JUDBON W. m.

